MHS, Lee softball teams grow at Classic

Published 6:00 pm, Saturday, February 26, 2011

Photo: Tim Fischer

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MHS, Lee softball teams grow at Classic

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The Lee and Midland High softball teams are some of the youngest in years and both took this weekend's West Texas Classic at the Freddie Ezell Softball Complex as a golden opportunity to play games and get better.

While both teams had an admirable showing, the Lady Rebels were probably the most pleased as they capped off a 6-0 weekend with a 9-0 victory over Coahoma in the classic finale.

Lee won the Maroon pool in Division I by five points over El Paso Hanks (56-51).

Midland High did well in the Purple pool as the Lady Bulldogs went 4-2 over the weekend and finished in second place with 40 points, 19 behind Burleson.

This weekend was an important one for both teams. Each was looking to get its young pitchers some work against solid varsity opponents.

"This was good for us because they need to gain some experience and confidence, and I think we achieved that," Lee coach Wes Overton said. "Last weekend at the Lubbock tournament we started off a little rusty because they didn't have any experience playing in those kind of games. They just need more games under their belts and more pitches ... and it's getting better."

Overton added that this is his youngest pitching staff since his first season at Lee in 1998. Current assistant coach Mandy Hacker was just a sophomore on that team.

Sophomore Emily Hardaway was on the mound against Coahoma in the classic finale and did a solid job of containing the Bulldogettes' lineup.

Hardaway also got plenty of offensive help as the Lady Rebels (10-2) gave her a 4-0 lead behind a three-run third inning. They added three more in the fourth thanks in part to a two-run home run by Kylee Olivas. And then in the fifth added two more with a two-run double by Dee Gaona. Rebecca Long was also a big sparkplug in the game with three hits and three runs scored.

"We put the ball in play," Overton said. "We've been stressing that a lot. We just need to make the other team play defense. They're starting to catch on. We're just young all the way around expect for shortstop, right field and left field. We have some talented young ladies who will get nothing but better. We just have to play more games."

MHS coach Shawnda Vines said her team also did some good things over the weekend from her Lady Bulldogs (7-6).

"We had some kids come through over the course over the entire weekend in some clutch positions, and that was good to see," she said. "Some of our young ones stepped up and did some good things. Overall, it was good for us. It's a good learning experience."

Like Lee, MHS has a very young pitching staff, as shown in the Lady Bulldogs' classic finale against Greenwood. Freshman Madison Garcia was in a pitching duel with the Rangerettes' Kendall Maddox, a junior, before Greenwood broke through with the only run of the game in the sixth. Ambrey Stone had a leadoff double and then scored on a single by Krystal Hillis.

"We've got the two freshmen and the sophomore that are still working in the circle and all three of them are doing some good things and getting a little better," Vines said. "I thought (Garcia) did a very good job against Greenwood."

Both Lee and Midland High will get more games and more opportunities to get better before they begin District 3-5A play on March 8.